Vaginal speculum.



F. H. BOUCHER.

VAGINAL SPECULUM.

APPLICATION rum) JULY 21, 1913 1,1 19,794. Patented Dec. 8. 1914.

uurrnn STAWENT orr on FRANCIS H. BOUCHER, OFMARSI-IALLTOWN', IOWA.

VAGINAL SPECULUM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. Bononen, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Marshalltown, Marshall county, Iowa, have invented a new and useful Vaginal Speculum, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for vaginal specula, in which a ratchet device is spring-held in one direction to hold and maintain the manual expansion of the speculum and means are provided for arbitrary expansion auxiliary to the ratchet device.

A further object of this invention is to improve the construction of specula in the matter of location of connecting and adjust ing devices laterally and to the left of the orifice.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claim andillustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan of the complete device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a front elevationof the same. Figs. 4, .5 and 6 are detail views illustrating modifications of the device.

In the construction of the device as shown the numerals 10, 11 designate concavo-convex and tapering blades arranged in op posed relations and presenting their con vex surfaces outward. The blades 10, 11 are formed with semi-circular peripheral flanges 12, 13 on their larger ends and the blade 10 is also formed with a slot 14: extending through the base of the flange 12 to accommodate the clitoris in use. Arms 15, 16 are formed on and extend laterally and outwardly from end portions of the flanges 12, 13 in spaced relations and oppositelyconcaved lips or lugs 17, 18 are formed on the extremities of said arms and extend in spaced relations toward the median line or longitudinal axis of the blades. Spaced ears 19, 20 are formed on and rise from the arm 16 adjacent to the flange 13 and a stem or standard 21 is pivoted at one end on a pin 22, removably and replaceably mounted in said ears, and rises through a slot in the arms 15 adjacentto the flange 12. The stem or standard 21 is formed of bar metal and is twisted a quarter turn adjacent one end, in order that the shorter arm thereof may Specification of Letters Patent.

extend within the space between the ears 19, 20 and the longer arm may extend slidingly through the slot in the arm 15, said space and slot being at right angles to each other. A set screw 23 is mounted in and extends outwardly from the arm 15 and is adapted to engage the stem or standard 21 and fix the arm thereon in any position in which it may be placed manually. A curved ratchet bar 21 extends at one end within a slot in one end portion of the arm 16 and is pivoted on a screw 25 seated in said arm and projecting laterally therefrom. The ratchet bar 21 extends loosely through a slot in the arm 15 and the teeth thereof are adapted to engage a pin 26 in said arm 15 and crossing the slot therein. A spring 27 is mounted on the screw 25 and engages at opposite ends with the arm 16 and the ratchet bar 2 1 and said spring tends to press the bar forward and cause the teeth thereof to engage the pin 26.

In practical use the blades are introduced to the orifice in closed or approximated position and then separated manually to desired extent by movement of the arm 15 on the stem 21, and then looked in such separated positions by setting of the screw 23 manually. Then the blades are further separated for dilation of the orifice by manual compression of the lips or lugs 17,.

18, which compression is held and maintained, after manual release, by the ratchet bar 24.

It will be observed that the arms 15, 16 and connecting devices are all located to the left of and laterally removed from the orilice, thus enabling the operator to have uninterrupted access to the orifice and room for manipulation of instruments therein by the use of his right hand. It also will be observed that the set screw 23 is out of contact with the leg of the patient.

When it is desired to withdraw the speculum the same may be automatically contracted by manual movement of the bar 2-1 out of engagement with the pin 26.

All the parts are separable for convenience in cleansing and polishing.

In the construction of the device as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the set screw 23 is omitted and the stem or standard 21 is formed with ratchet teeth on one margin. A pawl 28 is mounted on the lower face of Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application filed July 21, 1913. Serial No. 780,410.

the arm 15 andisheld in place and slidingly arranged by screws 29 extending through a slot 30 in the pawl and seated in the arm. One end of the pawl 28 is adapted to engage one or another of the teeth of the stem or standard 21 and prevent accidental approach of the arms 15, 16 on said stem. The pawl 28 may be set to the arm 15, when desired, by manual tightening of the screw 29 farthest from the stem 21 In the construction of the device as shoWn in Fig. 6 the flat stem 21 or2l is omitted and a stem or standard 21", circular in cross section, is mounted in place thereof and extends through a hole in the arm 15. The stem 21 is formed with a series of notches or holes 31 opening in one direction and adapted to receive a pointed end portion of a pawl 28 slidingly mounted on the lower face of the arm 15 in the same manner as the pawl 28 is mounted.

The function of the modified devices shown in Figs. t, 5 and 6 is the same, namely, to provide means for locking the arm 15 on the supporting stem or standard and prevent accidental approach of one arm to the other on the stem.

1 claim as my invention- A speculum, comprising blades formed with base flanges and also formed with laterally extending curved arms, a standard pivoted on one of said arms adjacent its blade and extending slidingly through the other arm, means on the latter arm for engaging said standard and for fixing the position of such arm relative to the standard and other arm, a curved ratchet bar on the first arm and extending slidingly through the, other arm, said ratchet bar being formed with teeth on its ooncaved side, a transverse pin in the second arm adapted to be engaged by said teeth, a spring fixed to the first arm and engaging said ratchet bar to hold the same in engagement With said pin, and conoaved lugs on end portions of said arms extending toward the median line of said blades.

Signed by me at Marshalltown, Iowa, this 16 day of July, 1918.

FRANCIS H. BOUCHER. Witnesses J. M. WHITAKER, B. F. GoLDING.

Games of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Yatenta, Washington, D. C. 

